The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II

Author: Karlheinz Münch
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0811769259
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 385

Book Description
German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 was equipped with the heaviest tank destroying vehicles of the German armed forces. Initially activated as an assault gun battalion and redesignated in April 1943, the 653 received its first Ferdinand heavy tank destroyers (later modified and renamed Elephants) in May 1943 and went into action on the Eastern Front a month later. In 1944, the unit converted to the even more massive Jagdtiger. The seventy-five-ton, heavily armored Jagdtiger was the behemoth of the battlefield and boasted a 128mm gun-as opposed to the Ferdinand's 88-with a range of more than thirteen miles, making it deadly despite its limited mobility. Outfitted with these lethal giants, the 653 saw service in Russia, Italy, Austria, and Germany. The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II includes hundreds of photos, many never published before, of Germany's rarely seen tank destroyers, including the Ferdinand, Elephant, and Jagdtiger. Color illustrations focus on unit markings, numbering, and camouflage, and the accompanying text chronicles the unit's combat operations as well as personal accounts from the men who rode in these mechanical monsters.

Armor

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mechanization, Military
Languages : en
Pages : 460

Book Description

The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II

Author: Karlheinz Munch
Publisher: Stackpole Books
ISBN: 9780811732420
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 408

Book Description
Hundreds of photos, many never published before, of Germany's rarely seen tank destroyers, including the Ferdinand, Elephant, and JagdtigerColor illustrations focus on unit markings, numbering, and camouflageAccompanying text chronicles the unit's combat operations plus there are personal accounts from the men who rode in these mechanical monstersGerman Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 was equipped with the heaviest tank destroying vehicles of the German armed forces. Initially activated as an assault gun battalion and redesignated in April 1943, the 653 received its first Ferdinand heavy tank destroyers (later modified and renamed Elephants) in May 1943 and went into action on the Eastern Front a month later. In 1944, the unit converted to the even more massive Jagdtiger. The seventy-five-ton, heavily armored Jagdtiger was the behemoth of the battlefield and boasted a 128mm gun-as opposed to the Ferdinand's 88-with a range of more than thirteen miles, making it deadly despite its limited mobility. Outfitted with these lethal giants, the 653 saw service in Russia, Italy, Austria, and Germany.

Ferdinand and Elefant Tank Destroyer

Author: Thomas Anderson
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472813472
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 257

Book Description
This is the story of the largest and statistically most successful tank destroyer of World War II. The Ferdinand was a true behemoth, and although only 91 examples were built, they took a savage toll of Soviet armour in the Battle of Kursk and subsequent operations on the Eastern Front. This study explores the technical development and combat deployment of this remarkable vehicle, from its' origins in the Porsche Tiger Tank through its deployment under the designation 'Ferdinand' in the Citadel offensive, to its modification and redesignation as the 'Elefant' and final use in the desperate Battle of Berlin. Drawing on original archival material from within Germany, private collections and heretofore unpublished photographs this title is an essential illustrated history to one of the most famous armoured vehicles ever built.

Hitler's Panzers

Author: Anthony Tucker-Jones
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 152674161X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 265

Book Description
Anthony Tucker-Jones traces the evolution of the panzers from their modest beginnings to the most powerful German tanks used in World War II. Often it is assumed that Hitlerâs panzers stormed into action perfectly formed, driving through the armies of the Poles in 1939 and the French in 1940 and defeating them. The dramatic blitzkrieg victories won by the Wehrmacht early in the Second World War â in which the panzers played a leading role â tend to confirm this impression. But, as Anthony Tucker-Jones demonstrates in this illustrated, comprehensive and revealing history of the panzers, this is far from the truth. As armoured fighting vehicles the early panzers were no better than â sometimes inferior to â those of their opponents, but their tactics rather than their technology gave them an advantage. Later on German tank designers developed technically superior tanks but these could not be built fast enough or in sufficient numbers. For all their excellence, they were overwhelmed by the American Shermans and Soviet T-34s that were produced in their tens of thousands. This is the story Anthony Tucker-Jones relates as he traces the evolution of the panzers from the modest beginnings in the 1930s to the Panzer IVs, Panthers and Tigers which were the most formidable German tanks of the war. Not only does he cover their design and production history, he also assesses their combat performance and gives a fascinating insight into the decision-making at the highest level which directed German tank design.

German Tank Hunters

Author: Bob Carruthers
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1473845106
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 166

Book Description
This unique collection of contemporary combat accounts provides a primary source insight into the reality of anti-tank warfare on the Eastern Front. Both armoured and infantry based operations are considered.This book is part of the 'Hitler's War Machine' series, a new military history range compiled and edited by Emmy Award winning author and historian Bob Carruthers. The series draws on primary sources and contemporary documents to provide a new insight into the true nature of Hitler's Wehrmacht.The series consultant is David Mcwhinnie creator of the award winning PBS series 'Battlefield'.

Tiger I and Tiger II

Author: Anthony Tucker-Jones
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1781590303
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 193

Book Description
The German Tiger I and Tiger II (known to the Allies as the 'King Tiger' or 'Royal Tiger') were the most famous and formidable heavy tanks of the Second World War. In their day their awesome reputation inspired such apprehension among Allied soldiers that the weaknesses of these brilliant but flawed designs tended to be overlooked. Anthony Tucker-Jones, in this illustrated history, tells the story of their conception and development and reconsiders their operational history, and he dispels the legends and misunderstandings that have grown up around them.??The Tigers were over-engineered, required raw materials that were in short supply, were time-consuming to manufacture and difficult to recover from the battlefield. Only around 1,300 of the Tiger I and fewer than 500 of the Tiger II were produced, so they were never going to make anything more than a local impact on the outcome of the fighting. Yet the myth of the Tigers, with their 88mm guns, thick armour and brutal profiles, has grown over time to the extent that they are regarded as the deadliest tanks of the Second World War.??Anthony Tucker-Jones's expert account of these remarkable fighting vehicles is accompanied by a series of colour plates showing the main variants of the designs and the common ancillary equipment and unit markings.??Anthony Tucker-Jones is a prolific writer on the history of fighting vehicles and armoured warfare. He has also written extensively on military affairs and terrorism. After a career in the intelligence community, he became a freelance defence writer and military historian. His most recent books are Armoured Warfare on the Eastern Front, Armoured Warfare in the North African Campaign, Armoured Warfare in the Battle for Normandy, The Kalashnikov in Combat and The Soviet-Afghan War.

The German Order of Battle

Author: George F. Nafziger
Publisher: Stackpole Books
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 472

Book Description
This reference work details the exact composition of German panzer and artillery forces in World War II, including the formation and organization of these units throughout the conflict.

Tiger Tank

Author: Marcus Cowper
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472812964
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 158

Book Description
The most famous tank of World War II, the Tiger was a monster of a machine that dominated the battlefields of Europe and beyond. Originally conceived in response to the German Army's experience fighting British tanks in western Europe and North Africa, the Tiger cemented its reputation of near invincibility during the savage battles of the Eastern Front. This is a complete illustrated guide to one of the world's most famous fighting vehicles, exploring its history, its strengths and weaknesses and its combat performance as it duelled against the best the Allies had to give. Drawing on a wealth of research, detailed illustrations and contemporary photographs, this book reveals how this remarkable tank became an icon of military history.

AK403 1945 GERMAN COLORS

Author:
Publisher: AK-INTERACTIVE, S.L.
ISBN:
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 76

Book Description
This book analyzes original, eye-catching color variants and camouflage patterns introduced by the German Army late in 1944 and used up until the end of the war in 1945. Throughout this 72 page guide the modeler will find themselves inspired for their next project. The book contains more than 180 beautiful color renderings showing the many camouflage patterns used on common vehicles and oddities used by the German forces. The reader will find vehicles such as the Panther, Pz IV, Tiger I & II, Stugs, Artillery Guns, Halftracks and more. A special section of the book will help us interpret black and white photographs, and also a chapter about "What If" and "Paper Panzers". The perfect complement for the new acrylic set AK 554 German Late War Colors.